‘This was a random attack:’ Bond is $1 million for alleged Greenbelt kidnapper
A court hearing Monday revealed new details about a Boise Greenbelt kidnapping case stemming from a weekend incident.
A judge arraigned Javier Ortiz, 26, of Ontario, Oregon, at the Ada County Courthouse on charges of aggravated assault and kidnapping. Ortiz attended virtually with the assistance of an interpreter.
The Ada County Prosecutor’s Office wasted no time laying out the case, with a prosecutor asking 4th District Magistrate Judge Theodore Tollefson to set Ortiz’s bond at $1 million, calling the incident “disturbing.”
Tollefson agreed with that bond recommendation.
“The defendant and the victim have no relationship,” the prosecutor said. “This was a random attack. This could not have been predicted.”
A woman was walking home alone and talking on the phone when Ortiz allegedly approached her from behind shortly before 11 p.m. Saturday on the north side of the Greenbelt near South Ferguson Street, according to prosecutors. Ortiz allegedly grabbed the woman’s face and neck, threw her to the ground and strangled her, restricting her breathing for about a minute, the prosecutor said in court.
He also threw her phone into the brush along the river, according to the prosecution.
“The defendant tried telling the victim to be quiet,” the prosecuting attorney said. “... He began telling her he was going to keep her safe and take her somewhere.”
The prosecutor said the victim hit and scratched her perpetrator, and was able to scream, “Get off me.” A nearby couple heard her and called 911. One person ran to investigate and located a man he later identified as Ortiz, the Boise Police Department said.
Ortiz admitted to being the man seen with the victim by a witness, authorities said. He told police that he had been trying to “turn her around” when she hit him with her purse and they fell to the ground, the prosecuting attorney said. Ortiz also allegedly admitted to covering her mouth during the incident.
“The defendant had no excuse or remorse for his behavior during an interview with law enforcement,” the prosecutor said in court. “The nature of this incident is disturbing and frightening to members of the community who now do not feel safe walking home or on the Greenbelt.”
Ortiz has an Oregon driver’s license and an apartment in Ontario, according to authorities.
Ortiz’s defense attorney argued for a $25,000 bond, citing his lack of criminal history. He said Ortiz has lived in the Treasure Valley for three months while working a construction job.
The judge set bail at $1 million and ordered Ortiz not to contact the woman.
Ortiz was arrested after responding officers set up a perimeter and began searching the area Saturday night. Police said they quickly located someone matching his description at 11:02 p.m. just west of the Broadway Bridge in Julia Davis Park. Both the woman and witness identified him, police said.
The Boise Police Department said it has increased patrols of the Greenbelt after this became the second violent incident on the popular walking path in a week. The incident Saturday night occurred about 1.5 miles west of where a Boise man was found stabbed to death on July 6. That suspect is in custody and faces a first-degree murder charge.
